Verdict · Updated April 2026
American Express Business Platinum for Small Business Use
The American Express Business Platinum isn't optimized for small business use — ranked #11 of 15 eligible cards. Unless you already hold it for other reasons, consider one of the alternatives below.
Rank #11 of 1529th percentileConsider alternatives
Reviewed by CardCompare Editorial Board
|Data-driven ranking|Updated April 2026
American Express Business Platinum
American Express · $695 annual fee
The ultimate business travel card for executives who fly frequently and can use premium credits. Over $1,000 in annual credits can offset the $695 fee. The 150,000-point welcome bonus is among the largest available and worth $1,500+ toward travel with the right transfer partners.
Full card review
Earn math — Small Business Use profile
Based on typical small business use spending of $33,600/year across the categories below.
Annual rewards
$576
Annual fee
$695
Net value
$-119
Business categoriesHigh limitsEmployee cards freeNo 5/24 impact
Where the American Express Business Platinum wins for small business use
- Classified as a business card — does not count toward Chase 5/24
Where it falls short
- Lacks strong business-category multipliers (office, advertising, shipping)
- No intro 0% APR and a high regular APR (27.49%) — carrying a balance is expensive
Top 3 alternatives for small business use
Cards that rank higher than or close to the American Express Business Platinum on our small business use scoring model.
How the American Express Business Platinum performs for other use cases
Frequently asked questions
Is the American Express Business Platinum a good card for small business use?⌄
The American Express Business Platinum isn't optimized for small business use — ranked #11 of 15 eligible cards. Unless you already hold it for other reasons, consider one of the alternatives below.
How much can I earn with the American Express Business Platinum on small business use spending?⌄
At the typical small business use spending profile of $33,600/year, this card earns approximately $576 in rewards — net $-119 after the $695 annual fee.
What are better alternatives to the American Express Business Platinum for small business use?⌄
Our top 3 alternatives are Chase Ink Business Cash, Chase Ink Business Preferred, Bank of America Business Advantage Cash Rewards. Each ranks higher on our use-case scoring model for small business use.
What credit score do I need for the American Express Business Platinum?⌄
The American Express Business Platinum typically requires excellent credit. Approval also depends on income, existing debt, and application history — a score in the stated range doesn't guarantee approval.
Is the American Express Business Platinum's annual fee worth it for this use case?⌄
The $695 annual fee breaks even when you earn $695 in rewards. At the typical small business use profile ($33,600/year), this card earns $576 — negative after the fee, so look at alternatives.
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